At first glance it might be hard to believe this year’s political campaigns shape up as unusually important to Southern Californians, given that the marquee race is widely expected to result in the re-election of the state’s longest-serving governor. But it’s true.

With all of the candidates’ paperwork now filed, and many contests lacking incumbents, it’s clear that the June 3 primary ballot will give the region’s voters a rare chance to juggle their lineup of county, state and federal representatives.

One reason this is an especially compelling election year is that these will be the first statewide elections held under the “top-two” or “open” (some say “jungle”) primary system enacted by voters in 2010. For each state and congressional office, candidates from all parties will appear on the same primary ballot, and the top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 4 election. Candidates have incentive to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans, and voters have more options.

But there are other factors making this an election particularly worthy of Southern California voters’ attention:

• The retirements of several veteran members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Henry Waxman, D-Manhattan Beach, Buck McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, and Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga, have combined for 78 years on Capitol Hill. The openings have attracted bumper crops of candidates.

• The musical-chairs effect. Some of those congressional candidates come from the state ranks, leaving openings for Senate and Assembly jobs.

They include the jobs now held by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Redondo Beach, who’s seeking Waxman’s seat along with Wendy Greuel, Matt Miller, Marianne Williamson and others; Sen. Steve Knight, R-Santa Clarita, who’s running for McKeon’s seat; and Norma Torres, D-Chino, who’s chasing the seat being vacated after only one term by Rep. Gloria Negrete-McLeod, D-Montclair. Among those hoping to replace Lieu are former Assemblywoman Betsy Butler and women’s rights activist Sandra Fluke.

• New term limits. These elections for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are the first affected by county voters’ decision to limit supervisors to three four-year terms.

On the way out are Gloria Molina, who represents parts of East L.A. and the San Gabriel Valley, and Zev Yaroslavsky, whose district stretches from the San Fernando Valley to Santa Monica and Hollywood. Vying to replace them are high-profile candidates such as former legislator Sheila Kuehl and former Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver for the Yaroslavsky seat, and former Congresswoman and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for Molina’s spot.

• Downward mobility. Continuing the trend of termed-out lawmakers running for ostensibly lower offices are Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, who’s facing Negrete-McLeod in a San Bernardino County supervisor race, and former state Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, who wants to be San Bernardino County assessor.

• Scandal. The resignation of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca in January has touched off a seven-way race for his badge.

Two scandals in the state Senate won’t directly affect the 2014 elections. Rod Wright, D-Inglewood, on leave while fighting his conviction for voter fraud, isn’t up for election this year. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, on leave while facing federal corruption charges, is termed out this year.

But those cases could make ethics a bigger issue than usual in these elections. They’re a reminder that voters must consider the quality of the candidates and not just their stands on the issues.

Voters face numerous choices — even at the top of the ballot, where Gov. Jerry Brown starts with many advantages in his bid for one last term. The two challengers getting the most attention, Tea Party Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Hesperia, and former U.S. Treasury Department official Neel Kashkari, represent different kinds of Republicans. Which one Californians prefer may instruct the state’s minority party as it tries to chip away at Democrats’ hold on all statewide offices and legislative leadership positions.

Once the Secretary of State releases official candidate lists March 27, voters can really begin to make their decisions. They face many important ones.

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